Peter Freeman, assistant director for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) at the National Science Foundation (NSF), announced today he will become a director at the Washington Advisory Group in January 2007. Freeman led the NSF CISE directorate since 2002, having come from Georgia Tech, where he was founding dean of computing and continues as an emeritus professor.

"Dr. Freeman's tenure at NSF was filled with many valuable achievements," said NSF Director Arden L. Bement, Jr. "We appreciate his contributions and leadership over the years and wish him the best in his future endeavors."

At NSF, Freeman led the Information Technology Research Program, oversaw a comprehensive reorganization of the CISE directorate, helped lead the elevation of cyberinfrastructure to a major activity across NSF, initiated the GENI Internet Research project, coordinated homeland security research across NSF, and substantially expanded cybersecurity research and development. He was instrumental in starting several key CISE programs, including Broadening Participation in Computing, Science of Design, Revitalizing Computing Education, and the Computing Community Consortium. He also served as co-chair of the National Science Technology Council Subcommittee on Networking and Information Technology R&D (NITRD).

The Washington Advisory Group provides strategic counsel and management consulting to the leaders of companies, universities, governments and non-profit organizations. It was founded in 1996 by a group of leaders in national science policy and research funding, including former NSF Director Erich Bloch.

In addition to consulting, Freeman will remain active in the computing community and with Georgia Tech. He will continue living in Washington.

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency that supports fundamental research and education across all fields of science and engineering. In fiscal year (FY) 2016, its budget is $7.5 billion. NSF funds reach all 50 states through grants to nearly 2,000 colleges, universities and other institutions. Each year, NSF receives more than 48,000 competitive proposals for funding and makes about 12,000 new funding awards. NSF also awards about $626 million in professional and service contracts yearly.